Where Have All the V12s Gone?
Back in the day, nearly every luxury automaker had a V12 engine to put under the hood of its flagship vehicles. Today, most have been replaced by downsized turbo engines, electric motors, or hybrid powertrains. There are still a few holdouts, but that number is dwindling by the day.
One automaker that has given up on 12 cylinders is BMW. For 35 years, a V12 stood atop the 7 Series' engine options list, but that all changed with the current-generation model. Now, the most powerful options available are with a twin-turbo V8, an electric version, or a six-cylinder plug-in hybrid.
Of V12s and the 7 Series
In a bid to outdo Mercedes-Benz, BMW rolled out the E32 7 Series in 1986 with a V12 option in the form of the 750i. It had a 5.0-liter engine that was essentially two 2.5-liter inline-sixes joined at the crank. It produced 296 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque, which were strong figures for 1986. The much-loved E38 7 Series then got a new V12, now at 5.4 liters with 326 hp and 361 lb-ft of torque.
That V12 grew to 6.0 liters for the E65/E66, breaching 400 horsepower with 449 hp and 443 lb-ft. For the F01/F02 era, it received BMW's first production turbocharged V12. Still at 6.0 liters, the boost gave it 536 hp and 553 lb-ft.
The last 7 Series to have a V12 under the hood was the M760Li xDrive (G11/G12). It was introduced in 2016 and was sold until 2022. It had a 6.6-liter twin-turbocharged V12 that doled out 610 hp and 590 lb⋅ft of torque.
Continuing the Legacy
Now, it's highly unlikely that BMW will ever put a 12-cylinder under the hood of its 7 Series, or any other car for that matter. Granted, BMW still produces them, but only for Rolls-Royce vehicles. With that, it's now up to the aftermarket industry to keep the BMW V12's legacy alive.
That brings us neatly to Manhart. If the name's familiar, it's a German tuning firm that's responsible for turning fast cars into absolute rockets. Thankfully, its latest creation is subtle by the company's standards. Dubbed the MH7 700, it's based on the M760Li, but gets a healthy dose of extra power, among other things.
Manhart
The Power
As it is, the M760Li made an impressive amount of power. After all, 610 hp was nothing to sneeze at, and was more than enough to propel the 5,100 lbs sedan to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds. With its speed limiter unleashed, the luxury limo could hit 190 mph. This was a limo that could keep up with a heap of sports cars, provided it was in a straight line.
But the MH7 700 dials up the insanity even further. The 6.6-liter V12 gets a turbo upgrade plus a reflashed ECU to crank it up to 711 hp and 775 lb-ft. That's 111 hp and 222 lb-ft extra over the already fast M760Li. Performance figures weren't given, but it'll probably hit 60 in well under 3.5 seconds. Top speed? Probably north of 200 mph...if you dare.
Manhart
Other Highlights
The exhaust system is also upgraded using Manhart's own parts. It consists of a stainless steel system with valve control, along with more aggressive downpipes. Also upgraded is the air suspension that's been calibrated to give a sportier drive. Curiously, the brakes have been left stock.
As for aesthetics, it gets a staggered set of 21-inch alloys, along with a carbon fiber front splitter and rear spoiler. The mirror caps are also finished in carbon, and one can add a decal set to let everyone know it's no ordinary 7 Series by any measure. As for the interior, it gets bespoke leather trims to further highlight its exclusivity.
The good news here is that current M760Li owners can now avail themselves of the upgrades found in the MH7 700. At the same time, said owners can mix and match parts they want fitted to their cars. For us, we'd go for the power pack and exhaust upgrade, and leave the rest looking stock. Heck, we'd also debadge it for extra stealth points.
Manhart
There are no reviews to display.